De la rareté au possible : les contraintes deviennent catalyseurs d'innovation | Kadwama Lazarus | TEDxJimeta

Kadwama Deborah Lazarus, fondatrice et directrice exécutive de Northeast Women In Tech (NEWIT), invite les Nigérians à agir avec les ressources dont ils disposent plutôt qu'à attendre des conditions idéales. En s'appuyant sur la réputation du Nigeria comme « géant de l'Afrique », elle évoque l'écart entre le potentiel du pays et ses réalités actuelles. Elle raconte aussi comment NEWIT est né d'un simple groupe WhatsApp pour devenir une initiative qui crée des opportunités technologiques pour les femmes du Nord-Est du Nigeria.

• Voir les difficultés comme une motivation à agir
• La naissance et la croissance de NEWIT
• Un travail auprès de femmes vivant dans des camps de déplacés

In her TEDx talk, Kadwama Deborah Lazarus challenges Nigerians to look beyond the limitations around them and take action from where they are. Using Nigeria’s reputation as the “Giant of Africa,” she reflects on the gap between the country’s potential and its present realities, encouraging people to see challenges as motivation to do more rather than reasons to hold back. She shares the story behind Northeast Women in Tech (NEWIT), her tech initiative aimed at creating opportunities for women in technology. What began as a simple WhatsApp group for women already in tech and those interested in the field grew through collaboration and a commitment to inclusion. Born, raised, and educated in Adamawa State, she also challenges the assumption that success requires being in a major city like Lagos. Through her experiences, including an initiative that reached women in IDP camps, she reminds us that meaningful change does not require perfect circumstances. Sometimes, all it takes is the courage to start with what we have, from where we are, and the willingness to see possibilities where others see limitations. Kadwama Lazarus is a technology and social impact leader, Founder and Executive Director of Northeast Women In Tech (NEWIT), an initiative of Girma Innovative Technologies. She is passionate about equipping women and girls in Northeast Nigeria with digital skills, leadership opportunities, and pathways to economic inclusion. With a background in Information Technology and product design, Kadwama works at the intersection of technology, inclusion, and community development. Her work has earned recognition from Google, She Leads Africa, and other leadership and technology initiatives, including the 2025 Google/Women Techmakers Community Impact Award and recognition as one of She Leads Africa's 2026 Top 50 Rising Motherland Moguls. Grounded in Northeast Nigeria, she is committed to challenging deficit narratives and demonstrating how communities facing constraints can create innovation, resilience, and new opportunities. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx